11 Effective Ways To Use Baking Soda For Treating Acne

Acne is probably the most common skin issue. With about 80% of people, who are aged between 11 and 30, dealing with acne at some point, the issue is a widespread problem. What’s worse is when you have an almost-chronic version of the condition with unpredictable breakouts and treatments that don’t help. If you’re nodding, maybe it’s time to try something new. Something closer to home. Something in your kitchen, to be more specific.

The two most versatile ingredients you will find in most households are baking soda and white vinegar. Baking soda is not only used for cooking and cleaning, but the white powder is also an excellent beauty ingredient. Here’s more on using it for your skin.

Is It Safe To Use Baking Soda For Acne?

The idea of using baking soda for acne gets a lot of mixed reactions. This is mostly because everyone’s skin is different and what some people’s skin might take to, others’ might not. Baking soda, for the most part, is harmless to use on the skin. However, it would be a good idea to exercise caution and conduct a tiny patch test before you actually apply it onto a large area of your skin. If you experience any burning, itching, or redness, baking soda might not be for you.

How Does Baking Soda Work For Acne?

Now that we’ve established that baking soda is a safe ingredient to use on your skin, let’s look at the benefits it offers when it comes to dealing with acne.

Baking soda has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe swelling and redness. It not only helps calm down flare-ups, but also soothes rashes, irritation, and sunburn.

Baking soda is a physical exfoliant. It has fine particles that effectively dislodge dirt and dead skin from your pores. It also causes relatively less irritation than most exfoliators while being more efficient.

Using this ingredient not only helps fight and prevent acne, but it also fades acne scars and pigmentation.

Baking soda helps absorb the excess oil from your skin. This, in turn, dries out the pimples and blemishes, helping them heal faster.

A baking soda paste, which is usually used on the skin, is alkaline in nature. This helps because your skin becomes excessively acidic during a breakout. Baking soda helps solve this problem by neutralizing the pH levels of your skin.

Treatment Time

Method

Apply the paste onto all of the affected areas as you would a spot treatment.

Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse off with cool or lukewarm water.

Finish by applying moisturizer.

How Often?

On alternate days.

Why This Works

This baking soda spot treatment helps neutralize the pH of your skin, and removes the dirt and dead skin. It also dries off the pimples, shrinking them and allowing them to heal faster.

2. Lemon Juice And Baking Soda For Acne

Image: iStock

You Will Need

2 tbsp baking soda

2 tbsp water

1 tsp lemon juice

Non-comedogenic moisturizer

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

15 minutes

Method

Mix the baking soda with some water and lemon juice to get a smooth paste.

Wash your face with a cleanser and pat dry.

Apply the paste, in a thin layer, onto your face as your would a mask.

Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse off with cool or lukewarm water.

Finish by applying moisturizer.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

Why This Works

Lemon juice helps control the oil production in your skin, while shrinking your pores. It also helps kill off bacteria and reduce redness. Just be careful! Lemon juice, can sometimes make your sensitive in the sun. Make sure to use your sunscreen.

3. Honey And Baking Soda For Acne

Image: iStock

You Will Need

1 tbsp raw honey

1 tbsp baking soda

Non-comedogenic moisturizer

Warm washcloth

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

5 minutes

Method

Mix the baking soda with the honey to get a smooth paste.

Wash your face with a cleanser and pat dry.

Apply the paste onto all of the affected areas as you would a spot treatment.

Place a warm washcloth on your face and wait for about 5 minutes.

Once the cloth has cooled, use it to wipe off the treatment and rinse your face with cool water.

Finish by applying moisturizer.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

Why This Works

Honey is a humectant that binds moisture to your skin. It also has bleaching properties that help fade the scars left behind by acne. This mask helps prevent acne and fade scars to give you clear skin.

You Will Need

Prep Time

Treatment Time

Method

Take a coin-sized amount of facial cleanser and to it add the baking soda and coconut oil.

Rinse your face with water and use this mixture to gently massage your face.

After you’ve massaged your face for a couple of minutes, and once your face feels clean, wash off the cleansing mixture with cool/lukewarm water.

Pat your face dry.

Finish with a non-comedogenic moisturizer.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

Why This Works

The coconut oil in this mix helps dissolve all the excess oil in your skin while the cleanser and baking soda work to eliminate them. This cleanser helps purify your skin and kill off bacteria, helping you fight acne.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar And Baking Soda For Acne

Image: iStock

You Will Need

1 tbsp baking soda

1 tbsp water

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Washcloth

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

15-20 minutes

Method

Mix the baking soda with some water to get a smooth paste.

Wash your face with a cleanser and pat dry.

Apply the paste onto all of the affected areas as you would a spot treatment.

Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse off with cool or lukewarm water.

Finish by applying a moisturizer.

The next day, soak a cloth in the apple cider vinegar. (If you have sensitive skin, dilute the vinegar with water.)

Dab the vinegar onto the affected areas of your skin.

Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes.

Rinse off with cool/lukewarm water.

How Often?

Alternate between the baking soda and apple cider vinegar remedies every day.

You Will Need

Prep Time

Treatment Time

Method

Place a warm washcloth on the affected areas of your skin to help open up your pores. Do this for 5 minutes at least.

Mix the toothpaste, baking soda, and water until you get a runny mixture.

Apply this mixture onto the affected areas and gently rub it in for about a minute using a clean toothbrush.

Wash your face with cool/lukewarm water.

How Often?

Every day.

Why This Works

This treatment is used to eliminate blackheads by opening up your pores and exfoliating your skin. It helps dislodge built up dirt and grime, giving you clear skin.

7. Olive Oil And Baking Soda For Acne

Image: iStock

You Will Need

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp baking soda

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

5 minutes

Method

Combine the baking soda and the olive oil to get a smooth mixture.

Apply this mixture onto the affected areas and gently massage in circular motions.

After massaging for about 5 minutes, wash your face with lukewarm water.

How Often?

Every day.

Why This Works

Olive oil has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help soothe, moisturize, and repair your skin. This remedy not only helps prevent acne but it also helps fade scars with the healing properties of olive oil.

Caution: If you have eczema, olive oil may aggravate your skin.

9. Aspirin And Baking Soda For Acne

Image: iStock

You Will Need

2 crushed aspirin tablets

1 tsp baking soda

1 tbsp water

Non-comedogenic moisturizer

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

15 minutes

Method

Combine all the ingredients until you get a smooth mixture.

Apply this mixture onto the affected areas as you would a spot-on treatment.

Let it sit for about 15 minutes and then wash it off with cool/lukewarm water.

Finish with a non-comedogenic moisturizer.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

Why This Works

Aspirin contains salicylic acid, which is used in acne treatments. It helps heal acne and prevent breakouts. The baking soda helps balance the acidic nature of aspirin.

10. Oatmeal And Baking Soda Mask For Acne

Image: iStock

You Will Need

1 tbsp baking soda

2 tbsp oatmeal

2 tbsp water

Non-comedogenic moisturizer

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

15 minutes

Method

Combine the ingredients to get a coarse mixture.

Apply this mixture on the affected areas of your skin.

Wait for 15 minutes until the mixture dries and rinse off with cool/lukewarm water.

Finish with a non-comedogenic moisturizer.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

Why This Works

Oatmeal helps absorb the excess oil from your skin. You can also treat back acne by taking a dip in an oatmeal bath every few days.

11. Baking Soda And Milk Mask For Acne

Image: iStock

You Will Need

1 tbsp baking soda

1/4 cup milk

Prep Time

2 minutes

Treatment Time

5 minutes

Method

Combine the ingredients until you get a smooth mixture.

Apply this mixture onto the affected areas of your face and gently massage in circular motions.

Leave the mixture on for about 5 minutes.

Rinse off with cool/lukewarm water.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

Why This Works

Acne might be pretty widespread, but that’s no reason to deal with it with so many treatments available! Try out these baking soda remedies to help fight the problem. If you are stuck, a visit to your dermatologist can save the day! Have you ever used baking soda in your skin care routine? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below.